Animal-trap.



c. n. NELY.

A ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FlLED1uLY1|.191H.

Patnted Nov. 19, 1918.

J SE a n y aNIMAurina?.`

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known. that I, CHARLES D. Nimmt, a citizen ofthe United State's,'residing at Chicago, in the county of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in animal traps of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1261273, dated April 2, 1918, and its object is to simplify the structure of the trap and to render the same more eicient and reliable in operation.

The object stated is attained by means of a novel and improved latch device operating in conjunction with a pair of tiltable platforms, as will be described hereinafter in detail and claimed.

In order that the invention may be better understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing. forming a part of this specification and in said drawing,

Figure 1 is a cross section of the trap set;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the latch device, and

Fig. 3 is an elevation of said device taken from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 denotes a suitable container adapted to hold water so that the animals dropping thereinto are drowned. The top of the container is normally closed by two tiltable platforms 6 and 7, respectively, which are reached by a runway 8 leading to the former.

The platforms 6 and 7 are normally flush and in horizontal position, and in this position they form a closure for the container 5. Both platforms are made of aluminum or other light metal and they are fixed to bottomA cross bars 9 having tenoned ends 10 which are pivotally set in the sides of a rectangular frame 5a seating on top of the container 5. At the middle of the cross bars 9 are secured counterweights 11 for restoring the platforms to their normal level positions after they have been tilted. The counterweights have a slanted position, by which a prompt return of the platforms is assured.

The free ends of the platforms 6 and 7 are in juxtaposition, and they are here engageable by a latch device consisting of a flat metal plate 12 of substantially oval contour having at one end a recess 13. The

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other end ofthe plate is shaped yto produce a vertical edge 14.

The lat'chplate 12 is pivoted, as' showna't 151:0 a bracket plate 16 having at the top a hook-like bend 17 behind which the latch plate seats. The part 17 also has a laterally projecting stop linger or projection 18 which is so positioned that it comes above the platform 7 whereby it is made to serve as a stop to limit the upward movement thereof. The plate 16 is secured to one of the side walls of the container 5 on the inside thereof, by screws or other suitable fasteners.

On that side of the container 5 where the latch device 12 is located, the platforms 6 and 7 are recessed as shown at 19 and 20, respectively, to accommodate said device. The recess 20 of 'the platform 7 is made by slitting the latter and bending the material downward to form a depending flange or shoulder 21. A

When the parts are properly assembled, the edge 14 of the latch plate 12 engages the flange 21 of the platform 7, and the edge of the platform 6 seats in the recess 13. It will therefore be seen that the two platforms are locked and cannot be tilted even though a weight is placed on the front platform 6. However, when the animal steps on the rear platform 7, the latter tilts and the'iiange 21 slides do-wn 0E the edge 14: of the latch device, which latter is now freed, and as its recessed end holding the platform 6 is heavier than the end which is engageable by the platform, it tilts the platform 6 so that the latterslips out of the recess 13. Both platformsnow being tilted, the animal is precipitated into the container 5, after which the platforms swing back to their normal horizontal position and the latch device automatically rengages the same, so that the trap is now reset and ready for the next victim.

As the position of the flange 21 is apt to be disturbed by wear, a means is provided for adjusting the same, such means comprising a backing block 22 fastened to the underside of the platform 7 by means of a bolt 22a passing through a slot 23 in the block. When wear of the ange 21 necessitates adjustment, said flange is bent straight, the block 22 is slightly advanced and refastened, and the flange is then again bent down on the end of the block, so that it again makes proper contact with the edge 14C of the latch device 12. The slot 23 permits this adjustment of the block 22 to be readily made after loosening the bolt 22a.

I claim:

An animal trap comprising a container, a closure at the top of the container comprising a pair of tiltable platforms having their free endsl in juxtaposition, and a pivoted'" latch for holding the platforms stationary, one end of the latch having a recess to seat the free end of one of the platforms, and the forins to limit the upward swing thereof.

In testimonyvvhereof I aHiX my signature.

`CHARLES D. NEELY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the Gommission'erof Pa/cents,

Washington, D. C. 

